TEXT: 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands,
dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your
prayers be not hindered.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

Ephesians 5:28-29 So ought men to love their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man
ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord
the church.

INTRO: The more society accepts the theory of
evolution, the less importance they attach to the institution of marriage. The
people who are convinced that men and women are creations of God and that God
established the institution of marriage, the more importance they place on
marriage. While this is not going to be a message on the general theme of
marriage, I felt it important to mention these things in the light of the fact
that more marriages are probably destroyed by the actions of men than by the
actions of men.

If a man recognizes that his marriage is
an institution of Godís ordinance, and that God has blessed him in giving him a
wife, he is more likely to be careful to maintain a right attitude toward
marriage and toward his wife.

I.THE ORIGINAL ORDER FOR
THE HUSBAND IS ORDAINED BY GOD

A.God gave the man a wife
out of his own concern for us. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not
good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

B.God made woman as a
help for man. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the
man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

1.The word that is
translated help in this verse certainly does not suggest that the woman
is to be a doormat for her husband.

2.The word comes from a
Hebrew word EZER which in turn came from the word AWZAR; these
words have the meaning of help, to help, to succor, to surround and protect
or aid.

3.The word meet is
supplied by the translators because the word EZER has in it the idea of
a helper who is a counterpart, a mate, one who complements,
rounds out, and completes her husband, who draws out his best side and helps him
to reach his greatest potential by her presence and action.

4.The truth is, brethren,
we need our wives as much or more than they need us for we are not complete
without them; this is one reason a woman who is widowed and financially secure
is less likely to remarry than a man.

C.The woman was taken out
of man and he must cleave to his wife to be complete. Genesis 2:20-24 And
Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of
the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the
LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of
his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the
LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be
called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave
his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh.

2.As used here it does
not necessarily mean that God literally cut out one of Adamís ribs and made
woman out of that rib but it does mean that he took some part of Adam, something
out of his side, and from that he made woman.

3.The point made in Godís
word is that the woman was made from the man and the man who does not love his
wife and honor her does not love himself nor honor himself. Ephesians 5:28-31
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife
loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father
and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

4.Jesus used this
original order in his discussion on marriage and divorce. Matthew 19:3-9
The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it
lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and
said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made
them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and
mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then
command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto
them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your
wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever
shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another,
committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit
adultery.

5.The permanence of the
original order for marriage, the husband cleaving to his wife and holding her in
proper honor, is evident from the fact that the first marriage survived the fall
of man.

a.Adam could have put Eve
away because of her sin and disobedience; she was not surrounding and protecting
him as she was created to do.

b.Instead, Adam willingly
cast his lot with her by also eating of the forbidden fruit, placing her even
above his obedience to Godís command and the welfare of the race.

(1)Adam was wrong to
disobey God.

(2)Adam was right in so
deeply loving his wife that he was willing to do what he did.

6.Paul refers back to
this original order in a letter to Timothy. 1 Timothy 2:13-14 For Adam was
first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived was in the transgression.

7.Husbands, it is evident
that our commitment to our marriage and to our wife should only rank second to
our commitment to God.

a.Our wife should come
before our father and mother. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh. Mark 10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
cleave to his wife. Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father
and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

II.HUSBANDS TO DWELL WITH
THEIR WIVES ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE

A.At the time that Peter
was writing this men would put away their wives for trivial reasons as is
reflected in the question of the Pharisees reflects. Matthew 19:3-6 The
Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful
for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

1.Jesus reminded them
that this was not so from the beginning but that the original order was for a
man to dwell with his wife in a permanent marriage arrangement for as long as
both were alive. 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that
he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For
this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife:
and they twain shall be one flesh?

2.When men divorced their
wives they were putting asunder that which God had joined together.6
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder.

B.Paul also teaches the
permanence of the marriage relationship and for even Christian husbands to not
put away their unsaved wives though he does allow for divorce if the unbeliever
departs from the marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:10-15 And unto the married I
command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11
But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her
husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I,
not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased
to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an
husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not
leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean;
but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A
brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us
to peace.

C.The husband is to dwell
with his wife according to knowledge.

1.Peter uses knowledge
elsewhere in his writing and that will give us the key to what he means here.

a.He uses it several
times in the first chapter of his second epistle. 2 Peter 1:3-6 According as
his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and
to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.

b.Again in the third
chapter of that second epistle he uses the word knowledge. 2 Peter 3:18 But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him
be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

c.Every time the word
ďknowledgeĒ is used in the New Testament in a good sense, or in reference to
the knowledge of Christians it has to do with the knowledge of God, of his word,
and/or of his Son, i.e., spiritual knowledge.

(1)It is used of the
knowledge of salvation. Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his
people by the remission of their sins.

(2)It is used of the
knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

(3)It is used of the
knowledge of the correct way to come to God. Romans 10:2 For I bear them
record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

(4)It has to do with the
depth of the knowledge of God. Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and
his ways past finding out! 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin
not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

(5)It has to do with the
knowledge of spiritual things. Romans 15:14 And I myself also am
persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 1 Corinthians 1:5 That in
every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.

(6)It refers to the
spiritual gift of knowledge. 1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the
Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

(7)It refers to the
knowledge of the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the
light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(8)It is knowledge in the
mystery of Christ. Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

(9)It refers to the
knowledge of the Son of God. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ.

(10)It refers to the
knowledge of Godís will. Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the
day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be
filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

(11)It refers to the
knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and
to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2.It is evident that
Peter has in mind here a knowledge of the word and will of God for marriage.

D.Peter is admonishing
husbands to not let the ease with which they could obtain a divorce cause them
to divorce their wives as was common but to dwell with them according to the
knowledge they had of the will of God in this matter.

1.Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his
wife: and they shall be one flesh.

2.Matthew 19:5
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave
to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

E.Paul uses Christís
everlasting love for his church as an example of the love the husband should
have for his wife. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:28-33 So ought men
to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh,
and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a
great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let
every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife
see that she reverence her husband.

F.We should live with our
wives in the knowledge that we are to subordinate our own selfish desires for
the benefit and blessing of our wives as Christ did his for us. 2 Corinthians
8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

G.We must realize that
all the submission in a marriage is not that of the wife but that there is a
mutual submission in some things. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 Let the husband render
unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the
husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the
other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to
fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your
incontinency.

1.The husband does have
authority over his wifeís body.

2.But, the wife has
authority over the husbandís body also.

III.HUSBANDS ARE TO HONOR
THEIR WIVES

A.Our text is very
explicit about the husbands attitude toward his wife. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise,
ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the
wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered.

1.The word honour
in this verse has two ideas within it and both ideas apply.

2.First, it has the idea
of something this is of great price or value.

a.The man should look
upon his wife as being very precious, or of great value, priceless. Proverbs
31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

b.We should look upon our
wives as gifts from God. Proverbs 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance
of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

c.We should realize that
God has especially favored us in giving us wives. Proverbs 18:22 Whoso
findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

d.Let us remember that a
good wife is a crown to us. Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her
husband.

3.Second, the word
honour has the idea of giving deference or reverence.

a.In Ephesians Paul
admonishes wives to reverence their husbands.

b.The word there is not
the same as that found in this verse and translated honor.

c.Yet, our word,
honour, has the idea of deference or reverence and speaks of the great love
one should have for his wife, even to the point of reverencing her.

B.Husbands should honor
their wives as the weaker vessel.

1.The term weaker
vessel does not necessarily refer to the physical weakness of the woman.

2.In the context it
probably has reference to the role the wife assumes in submitting to her husband
and exhibiting a meek and quiet spirit as the godly wife does.

3.In the eyes of the
world this appears as weakness, especially in this day of radical feminism.

4.Consider these texts
which seem to convey the same idea of weakness.

a.1 Corinthians
1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty.

b.1 Corinthians
12:21-24 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again
the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of
the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of
the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more
abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For
our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having
given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

c.1
Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

d.2 Corinthians
10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily
presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

e.Just as God has
tempered the body together so that more abundant honor is given to the weaker
parts, so he has ordained that men should honor their wives highly because of
the submissive role they assume as godly Christian wives. 1 Corinthians 12:24
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

(1)The husband of the
virtuous wife is known in the gates of the city because of his wife. Proverbs
31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs
31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the
land.

(2)It seems that her
husband must speak of her value to him in the gates of the city. Proverbs
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in
the gates.

C.Husbands should honor
their wives as fellow heirs of the grace of life. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye
husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife,
as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life;
that your prayers be not hindered.

1.In this blessing of
spiritual life the husband and wife are equals. Galatians 3:28 There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

2.In this life the wife
is to be submissive to her husband but in heaven in will not be so. Matthew
22:29-30 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the
scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry,
nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

3.Marriage is for time,
not eternity, and as the form of this world passes away and we enter into our
eternal presence with Jesus Christ, wives and husbands will be absolutely equal.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

IV.HUSBANDS SHOULD DWELL
WITH AND HONOR THEIR WIVES SO THAT THEIR PRAYERS WILL NOT BE HINDERED

A.The goal for the
Christian husbandís conduct in relation to his wife is unhindered prayer.

1.In I Pet. 2:21-25 we
saw the goal of Christís suffering to be the salvation of his people.

2.In I Pet. 3:1-6 we saw
that the goal of the wifeís godly submission to her husband was his salvation.

3.In our text we see that
the goal of the husbands conduct in relation to his wife is unhindered prayer.
1 Peter 3:7 That your prayers be not hindered.

a.A wife who is
domineering, who is contentious with her husband, who does not submit to her
husband in the godly manner, cannot expect to have and effectual prayer life.

b.A husband who does not
honor his wife and dwell with her as prescribed in the word of God, cannot
expect to have an effectual prayer life.

c.The husband and wife
who are not in the right relationship in their marriage cannot expect their
joint and mutual prayers to be effectual. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not
one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give
yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you
not for your incontinency.

d.Our relationship with
others will certainly affect our prayer life. Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if
thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath
ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

e.Where there is conflict
there will be hindered prayers. James 4:1-4 From whence [come] wars and
fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in
your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot
obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and
receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. 4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is
enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy
of God.